11 BEST Date Appetizers You Can’t Resist!

Love this? Share it with your people 💕

I’ve always loved how dates turn simple appetizers into something special. Their natural sweetness and soft, caramel-like flavor pair beautifully with cheese, bacon, or herbs — making every bite feel indulgent but effortless.

For this roundup, I’m using ripe dried dates (they’re easier to find and just as delicious). Let’s dive into 11 of my favorite date appetizers — and don’t skip #9 if you love goat cheese and bacon as much as I do!

1. 2-Ingredient Bacon-Wrapped Dates

I’m head over heels for the warm, chewy, salty, sweet pop of flavor in bacon-wrapped dates. They are the foundation of all things date appetizer in my book. Two ingredients are all it takes for the perfect warm party appetizer.

2. Manchego Stuffed Dates With Prosciutto Di Parma

Prosciutto di parma is delicate and sweet in every bite, making it perfect for date appetizers. After baking the stuffed dates in the oven for about 8 to 10 minutes, you’ll see the cheesy goodness melting all over the dates. 

3. Stuffed Dates With Cream Cheese & Nuts

I love how easy it is to dress up dates with a little crunch. Stuff them with cream cheese and your favorite nuts for an appetizer that’s creamy, sweet, and just a little salty. Use whatever nuts you have on hand — walnuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios, or a mix of all of them. Crushing a few varieties together adds great texture and flavor in every bite.

The mild tang of the cream cheese balances the rich sweetness of the dates perfectly — a simple combo that always tastes special.

4. Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates With Almonds & Balsamic

These elegant bites balance creamy, tangy goat cheese with the natural sweetness of dates and the crunch of toasted almonds. A drizzle of balsamic adds just enough brightness to tie it all together. Simple to make, yet impressive on any appetizer spread.

5. Truffle Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates

What I like about this recipe is how simplistically elegant that it is. You will blend together the cream cheese, goat cheese, truffle oil and other ingredients. Then after turning the dates into little boats in waiting, you will fill the dates with this delicious creamy mixture. Whatever you do, make extras because these will go quick.

6. Bacon-Wrapped Dates With Manchego & Honey

You’ll never want to try another “devils on horseback” recipe once you’ve feasted on these Bacon-Wrapped Dates With Manchego & Honey. Splitting the dates in half and stuffing them with slivered almonds is another way to enjoy a nice crunch in every bite.

Wrap the dates in thinly-sliced bacon and stuff them with savory and sweet manchego cheese, and it’s an explosion of flavors in your mouth. 

7. Baked Feta with Dates, Pistachios and Honey

This baked feta with dates, pistachios, and honey hits all the right notes — sweet, salty, creamy, and just a little nutty. The honey deepens the natural sweetness of the dates, while the feta turns soft and spreadable in the oven. A sprinkle of pistachios adds crunch and color, making this simple dish feel extra special without any fuss.

8. Goat Cheese & Salami Stuffed Dates

Sweet dates meet salty salami in this simple, satisfying appetizer. Calabrian salami adds a hint of spice and depth, balanced by creamy goat cheese and a sprinkle of pistachios for crunch. Perfect for sharing — though you may not want to.

9. Bacon Wrapped Dates With Thyme & Goat Cheese

Goat cheese’s tangy richness makes it a natural partner for sweet dates. Here, a touch of fresh thyme adds an herbal lift — minty, earthy, and just a little floral — for a balanced, aromatic bite that feels both simple and sophisticated.

What Does Thyme Taste Like? Everything You Need To Know About Thyme

10. Olive Tapenade Stuffed Dates With Toasted Pine Nuts

Salty, briny, and just a little unexpected — these olive tapenade stuffed dates are the kind of appetizer that surprises people in the best way. The tapenade’s mix of olives, capers, and herbs adds bold Mediterranean flavor, while toasted pine nuts bring earthy crunch to every bite. Simple to make and elegant enough for a party platter, they’re small but mighty flavor bombs.

11. Prosciutto & Date Palmiers

Sweet dates meet salty prosciutto and nutty Manchego in these elegant, flaky palmiers. The date mixture adds just the right touch of caramel sweetness, balanced by savory layers of prosciutto and walnuts. Baked until golden and crisp, they make an irresistible bite for cocktails or any gathering.

The bottom line

If you’re looking for a reason to bring out the chewy, sweet goodness of dates, I hope you’ll try one of these simple party platter foods that disappear fast.